AFTER more than a decade of being a victim of crime on Apollo Estate Sylvie Herreros has had enough.
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In the 14 years Ms Herreros has lived at the Apollo Estate, she has reported 10 crimes against her.
Her welcome to the neighbourhood the day she moved to the area in east Dubbo was a punch in the face due to an unfortunate case of mistaken identity.
Ms Herreros described the well know area of Mount Druitt, where she grew up in the 1970s as “a picnic” compared to her time living in Apollo Estate.
“I grew up in a housing commission and it was nothing like this,” she said.
“When I moved to the country I thought it was great, then I moved to Apollo.”
She is now trying to transfer from the estate into another Housing NSW property as she can’t afford a private home on her disability pension.
It is the belief of Ms Herreros that Dubbo police do not have a large enough presence in the area or don’t regard Apollo Estate as a priority.
Orana Local Area Command (LAC) Detective Inspector Rod Blackman said Apollo Estate has the focus of the local police.
“The Apollo Estate is a priority location for Orana LAC with significant input in terms of proactive operations, analysis and collaborative initiatives with other agencies,” he said.
“It is an area that does suffer higher rates of crime and anti-social behaviour hence our increased focus in the area.”
Ms Herreros believes gangs of youths in Apollo Estate and house fires are two major issues.
“There are teenagers roaming free because their parents let them do what they want,” she said.
“Something has to be done this generation is turning into delinquents and it is scary.”
Her son had been the recent victim of groups of youths on January 29 and again on February 5 this year.
Ms Herreros said her 19-year-old son was playing his Xbox in the company of his cousin in the early hours of the morning on January 29 when he heard a disturbance outside. When he went to investigate he found a group of youths trying to steal his cousins motor scooter who then assaulted him.
Ms Herreros said it took police two hours to arrive to take a statement of the incident.
The second incident on February 5 against her son involved a metal object being thrown at him, which he dodged in time to see it go through one of the house walls.
“He was by himself, he heard a racket and went to investigate,” Ms Herreros said.
“He has said to me “the police aren’t doing anything, they are going to get away with it”.”
While Ms Herreros has lived in Apollo Estate she had seen many vacant houses “go up” in flames.
“Nearly every weekend you will find a fire happening here,” she said.
A spokesman of Housing NSW confirmed there have been a number of fires in Apollo Estate.
“There have been four fires in Housing NSW properties over the past five months as well as a number of fires in private housing in and near the Apollo Estate,” he said.
“As a result of the fires one Housing NSW property had to be demolished.”
The other Housing NSW properties have been or are being repaired on Apollo Estate. “Housing NSW has been working with police and other agencies to address any reports of antisocial behaviour in the Apollo Estate, including employing security services to patrol the area,” the spokesman said.
Of the transfer applications of Ms Herreros the Housing NSW spokesman said tenants could apply for a transfer to another property if a change in their circumstances makes their existing property or location no longer suitable. He added Ms Herreros needed to provide further evidence to support her application.
“Housing NSW staff have been in contact with her requesting further evidence and are waiting for her to respond to this request,” the spokesman said.
Timeline of crime against Ms Herreros
May 13, 2003 Breach AVO
December 26, 2003 Assault
March 5, 2004 Theft
June 25, 2004 Personal violence
June 26, 2004 Malicious Damage
January 16, 2005 Personal Violence
December 11, 2006 Break and enter
May 6, 2007 Neighbour dispute
January 24, 2011 Tresspass
September 3, 2011 Malicious Damage